Automatic dipping machine



y s. s. ROBY AUTOMATIC DIPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l M/VE/VTUR Sheldpn S. Robs ATTORNEY AUTOMATIC DIPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 192 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR V Sheldon S. Roby WBW ATTORNEY mani May 10, 1927. a v UNITED; STATES .'PAVTE.NT OFFICE.

SHELDON. S. BODY, OF MER IDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR,. BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE MILLER COMPANY, OF MERIDEN,OONNECTICU'1, A CORPORATION OF CON- AU'IOMA'IIC DIPPING NIAOHINE.

.1 by dipping the articles into the paint or lacquer in a tank. This dipping, to produce satisfactory results requlres conslderable care, as the articles after being submerged into the paint or lacquer should be adual- 2 1y withdrawn so that an even coating may remain on the articles. They should be allowed to drain so that excess material may drip oil, and these drip ings should be recovered. Furthermore the paint has a tendency to settle in the tank'and constant agitation is necessary to maintain an even consistency.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic dipping machine in which objects, preferably a large number of them, may be simultaneously dipped in the desired liquid, and then the liquid gradually withdrawn from underneath the articles so that the excess liquid may drain off them leaving a smooth even coating.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine in which arts are duplicated so that first one si e and then the other side of the machine may be used to immerse the articles, the other side acting as a receiver for the li uid which flows out of the tank in which t e articles were immersed.

Another object of the invention is to provide motor-driven mechanism for shifting the liquid tanks to a position to immerse the articles and to associate with that mechanism and motor suitable controls for automatically discontinuin the operation of the Jnotor while the liquid is allowed to drain away from the articles.

Another object of the invention to to provide an automatic dipping-machine wherein the liquid. is allowed to flow back and forth ipping machine and is more par-- between two containers in such a way as to keep it well stlrred and of even'consistency without the introduction of air bubunderstood that the drawings are merely illustrative of the invention which may be embodied in various forms.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of this embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 3 isa top plan view of the machine; Fig. 4 illustratesthe main or series switch at an enlarged scale; 7

Figs. .5 and 6' are end and side views of an automatic reversing switch; and i Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view .illustrating the wiring system of the motor, and the automatic switching arrangement for controlling the operation of the motor'and tanks.

The operating parts of the embodiment of the machine herein illustrated are assembled on a suitable frame which is here shown as consisting of four vertical uprights or osts 10, 11, 12 and 13 to which are fastened ttom cross pieces 14 and 15 and top cross pieces 16 and 17. Horizontal side frame members 18 and 18 are disposed across the top of the frame while a platform 19 is fastened to the bottom cross members 14 and 15.

As here shown, one-end of the platform 19 extends out beyond the vertical uprights, and a motor 20 is suitably mounted on this extension of the platform. This motor drives through a belt 21 a pulley wheel 22 carried on a shaft 23, and the shaft 23 carries a worm 24 which meshes with a worm' wheel 25 on a horizontal shaft 26. The latter shaftis mounted inzbrackets 27 and 28 located intermediate the uprights and car- These brackets are mounted underneath a longitudinal member 35 which is supported from the top cross pieces 16 and 17, and by struts 36 and 37. The struts extend from the platform to the under side of the member 35, and assist in holding the member in place and in supporting the load imposed on this member by the shaft 32.

Sprocket chains 38 and 39 are passed about sprocket wheels 29-3l and 3031 respectively. Suitable tanks 40 and 41 are fastened to the opposite sides of the sprocket chains 38 and 39 as indicated in the drawings. These tanks are interconnected by a tubular member 42, which extends from the bottom of one tank down underneath the platform and up to the bottom of the other tank. In the present embodiment, this member may be a flexible hose to economize in space. The motor is adapted to drive the sprocket chains in an obvious manner, and when the motor is started in the desired direction one of the tanks will be raised and the other tank lowered.

The connections for controlling the motor, as illustrated in Fig. 7, will now be de scribed. The motor 20 may be either a shunt motor or a series motor but is here shown as a shunt motor. The incoming leads are shown at and 51. One of these leads is preferably provided with two switches 53 and 54 arranged in parallel, the switch 53 being provided as a starting switch and the switch 54 as an automatic circuit breaking switch to stop the motor.

The switch 54 is shown more in detail in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. It consists of a fixed contact 55 mounted on the strut 36 and a movable contact 56 also carried from the strut 36. The contact 55 may be shielded by a cap 55', if desired, to prevent fouling by the paint or lacquer. The contact 56 is carried on the upper end of a movable rod 57 guided in brackets 58 and 59. This rod may conveniently be in the form of a piece of pipe which is connected by means of a T (30 with laterally extending pipes or rods 61 and 62. These rods extend far enough to be in the path of the tanks 40 and 41 respectively as they approach the lower position. In Figs. 1 and 2 the tank 41 is shown as being in engagement with the extension (52 and the switch pulled open in consequence. The coiled spring 63 is provided to close the switch contacts 55 and 56 when the tank is raised from its lower position.

The motor 2) is also wired up with a reversing switch 64 here shown in the form of a double pole double throw switch having central contacts 65 and 66 connected with the field 67 of the motor. The clips 68 and 69 are connected to one side of the line through the lead 7 O and cross-connection 71, while the other clips 72 and 73 are connected to the other side of the line by means of lead 74;

and cross-connection 75. The movable switch blades 76-76 and 77- 77 are connected to the crossheads 78 which are in turn connected with a U-shaped operating mem her 7 9. The switch is mounted on latform 19 as shown on the lower left 0 Fig. 1. The U-shaped member 79 has upright arms 80 and 81 which are provided with horizontal lugs or pins 82 and 83 extending' into the path of the tanks and adapted to be engaged and moved by one or the other of the tanks when it approaches its lower position.

Suitable supporting devices for the articles to be dipped are provided on the upper part of the machine. As here shown these may be in the form of round rods 85 and 86 supported by inwardly directed brackets 87 mounted on the uprights 10, 11, 12 and 13. These rods are preferably parallel and constitute tracks or rails along which the articles to be dipped may be moved. The distance between them is substantiall the same as the spacing of the centers 0 tanks 40 and 41. The rods and 86 may slope toward the right if desired. For convenience. a number of the articles to be dipped may be directly supported from a carrier 88, and this carrier and load moved as a unit. In Fig. 2 a plurality of articles A are shown in the position to be immersed in the liquid in the upper tank.

In operating the dipping machine one slides a number of articles to be dipped into osition to be above the lower tank. He t ien operates the starting switch 53 which energizes the motor and starts it in the direction to raise the lower tank and lower the upper tank. The direction in which the motor starts is predetermined by the reversing switch above described. The lower tank is brought to the upper osition, the other tank moving simultaneous y down to the position where it engages the lateral arm 61 or 62 to open the automatic switch 54 and stop the motor and to engage one of the pins 82 or 88 to shift the reversing switch. The raising of the lower tank has immersed all of the articles in the paint or lacquer, and the tanks now remain inthe position to which they have been moved. The liquid drains from the upper tank through the flexible tubing 42 into the lower tank. This slow drainage of the liquid which may be predetermined by a cock 89 suitably located in the drain gives a smooth even coating of the liquid to be deposited on the articles as the liquid is withdrawn. It also transfers the liquid to the other tank and stirs it without introducing air bubbles.

During the time that the liquid is drain ing. as described. the operative may remove the batch of articles by sliding them along the opposite track and prepare a new batch of articles and slide them into position above embodied in many forms and constructions and I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown and described is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being ossible, I do not in any way limit myself with respect thereto.-

I claim:

1. An automatic dipping machine having means for supporting articles to be dipped, means for raising a tank of li uid to immerse the articles in the liqui a second tank into which theliquid is received, means for raising the second tank and lowering the first tank, and means for supporting articles to be dipped as the second tank is raised,

- the upper the'drain permitting the reverse flow of the liquid.

2. An automatic di ping machine comprising two tanks eac having upper and lower positions supporting means for articles to be dipped in each tank when it is in osition, means for raising one tank and or lowering the other tankfa drain passage between the tanks to permit liquid to slowly drain from the upper tank into the lower tank, and means for holding the upper tank in. position while the liquid drains into the lower tank.

3. An automatic di ping machine comprising two tanks eac having upper and lower positions supporting means for articles to be dipped in each tank when it is in the upper position, an electric motor and devices driven thereby for raising one tank and for'lowering the other tank, a drain passage between the tanks to permit liquid to slowly drain from the up er tank into the lower tank, and automatic devices for stopping .and reversing the motor in response to the osition of the tanks.

4. In combination, a frame,.a pair of tanks, means mounted on the frame and associated with the tanks for raising one tank and simultaneously lowering the other,

means for allowing liquid to flow from the upper tank to the lower tank, and supporting devices carried by the frame in a position for supporting articles to be immersed in the liquid in the upper tank.

5. In combination, a frame, a pair of tanks, means mounted on the frame and associated with the tanks for raising one tank and simultaneously lowering the other, means for allowing liquid to flow from'the upper tank to the lower tank, and means to retain the tanks in position to permit the liquid to drain. q

6.- In combination, an electric motor, a switch in series with the motor, a reversing switch for controlling the direction ofrotation of the motor, a pair of tanks, mechanism driven by the motor for elevating one tank andsimultaneously lowering the other tank, means for allowing the liquid to flow from the upper tank into the lower tank,

and devices for operating the. reversing switch and opening the series switch when the tank being lowered reaches a predetermined position.

7. Anautomatic dipping machine comprising, a frame, two article supporting devices near the top of the frame, a pair of liquid containing tanks, means mounted on 1 the frame and associated with the tanks for raising one tank and simultaneously lower-' ing the other, whereby articles on the supporting device may be immersed in the upper tank, and means for allowing liquid to slowly drain from the upper tank into the lower tank whereby the liquid is gradually withdrawn and the articles allowed to drain.

8. An automatic dipping machine comprising, a frame, an upper and a lower shaft supported from the frame, a chain drive interconnecting the shafts, a pair of tanks mounted on said chain in such position that one tank is raised when the other is lowered, an electric motor for driving one of the shafts, manual means for starting. the motor, automatic means for stopping the motor when the tanks approach extreme position, automatic means for reversing the motor connections when the tanks approach extreme position, whereby actuation of the manual means starts the motor in the opposite direction to lower one tank and raise the other, a connection between the tanks for allowing liquid to drain from the upper tank into the lower tank, and devices for supporting articles to be dipped in a position to be immersed in the liquid in the upper tank.

9. An automatic dipping machine comprising, a frame, a pair of parallel article supports, a pair oftanksdisposed underneath the article supports, means for raising one tank to immerse articles carried on one supporhsaid means lowering the other tank. and a connection between the tanks to permit liquid to flow from the upper tank into the lower tank whereby the liquid may be gradually withdrawn from the upper tank to produce an even coating on the articles immersed therein.

10. An automatic dipping machine comsupport, said means lowering the other tank, and a connection between the tanks to permit liquid to How from the upper tank into the lower tank whereby the liquid may be grudually withdrawn from the upper tank to produce an even coating on the articles immersed therein. the lower tank being in a position to receive drippings from the articles on the other support.

11. In an automatic dipping machine, a. pair of tanks adapted to contain liquid,

means for raising one tank and simultaneously lowering the other, a tube connecting the bottom of one tank with the bottom of the other tank to permit the liquid to flow under the influence of gravity into the lower tank whereby the liquid may be stirred without the introduction of air bubbles.

Signed at Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, this 23rd 20 day of February, 1924.

SHELDON S. RUBY. 

